Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-09

In clarion tones In the service OF freedom 10 hii
nations snd 90 oil men: ana
whereas We who arc connected by ucs ol
klndehip with Ireland feel grateful Tor .us
words of encouragement given by him 70 the
ssplrations OF our people
RRssoirSd' That we deeply regret the death OF
tho gifted orator, the friend OF freedom, and
the eloquent divine.
Resotrcd. That, grateful 70 him Tor hie es-ne ne,
and oufspoken nympsthy for tho Irish peonte
in their political aspirations, we express 20 hls
sorroWing family our heartfelt condolences.
COMMENT ON THE ACTION OF coseREdA-
uoSAL PREACHERS. -.a
CHICAGO. March Accommodating on
the failure of the Congregational min
isters TO adopt unanimously a resolu-
ton to send q telegram of coincidence
10 Mrs. Peecher at their meeting yes
terdny, the Times says: "Alas, for the
rarity of Christian charity AT the
meeting Of the Congregational minis
tiers of Chicago yesterday a resolution
of coincidence with Mrs. Henry Ward
Feecher was offered. Strange 10
saw. the resolution produced heated
and bitter discussion and developed so
much opposition that it was finally
withdrawn by the mover. The pro-
posed tender Of sympathy was objected
10 on two grounds That it might be
construed as an endorsement of MIR.
Beecher's theological views, and that
the diving divine had never fully cleared
himself of the charges OF immortality
brought by Theodore Tilton. The doe
trinal objections, however seemed to
carry the most weight. and IL was EVIL
dent that while the brethren were ready
TO forgive Beecher for any lapses from
virtue Of which he may have been
guilty, they could not find it III their
hearts to overlook his lapses from
orthodoxy. The action OF these
Conore cational clergymen displays q
spirit Of narrowness and intolerance
which il was hoped had vanished for
ever from the Protestant pulpit OF
America. Those who may conceive OF
Henry Ward Bcecher Withholding his
sympathy under like circumstances
from the wife Of dying fellow-clergy-
man may he able TO discover some JUS
| tifcation for this pitiful exhibition Of
clerical bigotry, but none Others can.
II had been supposed that even Chris
| tians ceased hating each other at graves,
| but it would appear from yesterdays
proceedings of the Congregational
| preachers of Chicago that such IS not
| always the case.
The Inter- ocean says "The discus
sion over the resolution OF sympathy
| to Mrs. Beecher at the meeting OF the
| Congregational ministers yesterday was
worse than unfortunate. 1t was, in
many of its phases, simply disgrace!ul.
Those who opposed the resolution,
| which siroply rendered the sympathy of
the Congrega tional ministers OF Chi
cago oawoman hangingoverthe death
| he'd of her husband, and that husband
the greatest preacher Of the COngrega-
| tionaI Church. based their opposition
on the theory that some people
| might construc this expression of
| sympathy into an endorsement
of Mr.. Beecher's theological
| views. What comment on
| the action Of the Congregationalists was
| the action Of the Methodist ministers,
1 WHO, uI tUONt lHt Hhiilc tliilt, hA'ptch,
by unanimous vote and without dis
| cussiOn, resolution rendering their
sympathy to Mrs. B6echer. Those who
opposed tie resolution took n great
risk. Granted that their motives were
| good. still they made mistake, which,
| in the light Of its possible effects, was al
most crime. The blood ofmillions will
boil over at this insult to the memory of
man who has been u tremendous
force in our civilization, who has done
so much not only for his own Church
but for Christianity. And among all
| those interested in extending the inhu-
encc of the Church there will be q keen
regret over the unfortunate incident at
the meeting of the Congregational min
listers yesterday. As the
case stands the man whose sermons and
| whose work have done more for Con
| ercgationalism than any other has re-
| ceived blow that will hurt those who
are near to him for all time. -"
| His Career.
Henry Ward Beeeher was the eighth child OF
| Lyman and Roxann Foole Beecher, aud was
| born 1T Iitchneld. Conn, June 81, 1913. His
| father was n well-known theological writer,